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Keeping Your Grout Clean

Tile is an ever-popular choice in home decorating. Tile makes a good addition to just about any room in your home.

But when you install tile throughout your home, you’ll also have to select grout to go along with it. And that can cause worry in many homeowners’ minds.

Grout can be tricky to clean without wearing it away. It can discolor and begin to fade. It can turn from white to yellow, making it look like you haven’t cleaned in a while. And what about sealing?

Cleaning grout doesn’t have to be difficult. All you need is a little elbow grease and a few tools at hand: scrub pad, hot water, a multi-purpose cleaner, and safety razors.

Using the safety razor flat against the tile, remove any layers of soap that are usually found right below the soap dish. Spray multi-purpose cleaner to the grout and use the hottest water you can stand to scrub away any stains.

Work in sections, scrubbing and rinsing as you go. By doing this on a regular basis, you should be able to retain grout close to the original color. If there is any missing grout, it’s a good idea to keep a little extra grout for small repairs. If you don’t have extra on hand, find some as close as possible to the original color of the existing grout. Finally, seal the grout with a sealer when it’s clean.

Grout lines should only contain grout. If you substitute with caulk, mold will grow in the grout lines. Caulk should only be used at the joints where the tub and wall, or where two walls meet.

If your tile shifts and appears to be popping out or is out of position, it may be a problem with the way the tile was attached. Knock on the tile with your knuckles. Do you hear a rattle or a hollow sound? The tile has pulled away from the backboard, and there is a bigger problem than missing grout.

If a lot of grout is missing, it may be time to bring your grout back to life. A layer of grout should be removed, and the section should be regrouted. Do not use premixed grout. Instead, use only dry grout that is mixed with water before installation. This will ensure a long life and high quality work that will be durable too. Be sure to seal whatever work you do to ensure your work lasts.